By Caroline Kehne Record Correspondent

Literacy is not just about reading

Literacy is something that many take for granted: filling out a form, answering a questionnaire, or settling down with a good book are activities that most of us do without a second thought.

Yet for those with low literacy levels, life can be both materially and spiritually challenging. As the world celebrated International Literacy Day on Monday, the Yamaska Literacy Council (YLC) wanted readers (and nonreaders) to understand the issues and challenges faced by those with low reading or numerical literacy skills.

Joani Tannenbaum, former YLC president and current coordinator, says the language of literacy education has changed from speaking about "literates" versus "illiterates" to talking about levels of literacy skill and proficiency.

Literacy is a continuum, and most Canadians have some level of literacy, says the 1996 Adult Literacy Survey (ALS) Report, Reading the Future: A Portrait of Literacy in Canada. The oft-cited ALS survey revealed some shocking statistics : approximately 22 per cent (one in five) of Canadians 16 years and over fall into the lowest level of literacy, defined as having serious difficulty dealing with printed materials. More importantly, another 24 to 26 per cent (one in four) fall into the next level, which includes people who can read simple material clearly laid out, and material in which tasks are not too complex. This means that on a combined level, nearly half of all Canadians have difficulty in reading more complex materials. (Continued on page 2)

WELCOME BACK! I hope everyone had a pleasant summer. I am very pleased to represent the team at YLC as president this year. As summer has come to an end and we gear up for a brand new year, I look forward to working with the dedicated team on council continuing with our numerous projects, both old & new. Welcome, all new and returning students, and many thanks to our dedicated volunteer tutors for their enthusiasm, efforts & donation of time from their busy lives and schedules. Here's wishing us all a very successful year!

Della Blanchette, YLC President